Editor’s Note:
First off, thank you to our loyal readers. February was a very difficult
month for me, as I lost my mother. She had been sick for a long time, and
even tho you know they might leave you, it’s very difficult when that time
does actually come.
So, it’s Spring (sort of) and now is the time to register for those youth
fishing derbies. In this issue we have a list of ones to register for and how
to prepare your youngin’s for the excitement of it.
Please join us on facebook at facebook.com/newenglandcompass.

All participants will need to bring supplies
for being in the outdoors: A back pack with: Spring weather
gear, hat, gloves, good hiking boots and a change of clothes.
Also Lunch, snack and water daily.
Equipment and Live bait supplied.
Hot chocolate daily and Hot Lunch (Pizza) on Friday included.

Growing up with a grandfather
who lived on Buzzard’s Bay,
and loved to fish is every girl’s
dream, right? Well I am happy
to say that’s what I was exposed
to almost every weekend
growing up: Fishing.
With three big brothers and my
Papa to take me out, it was truly
a wonderful experience growing up with weekends in Cotuit.
No — I didn’t sneeze, it’s really a
town called (Co-to-it.)
The first fish I ever caught was a
sand shark. I vividly remembering reeling it up, pulling it in
Papa’s sailboat and it chomped

the great wide open | Gone Fishin’
down on my big toe. While sand sharks
teeth are small, they still hurt... and will
make you bleed. I start crying, flaying,
screaming “Get it off!” My grandfather
was standing there, watching and laughing uncontrollably. Finally, the little jaws
unlatched and Papa threw him back in the
water. The classic catch and release.
Regardless of that pain, it was a memory
I will never forget. I want that for my own
two boys (not to get bit by sharks) but to
discover of the love of fishing.
While I can’t give them a life on the ocean,
my husband and I have been able to
be fortunate enough to purchase a lake
house. We live 200 ft from the water and

8 | facebook.com/newenglandcompass

have our own dock. Fishing from that dock
on a warm spring or summer day is just the
best. By the time my oldest was 4, he was
fully trained on how to hook a worm, cast
and reel—just like I was.
My boys are lucky, they get to participate
in good ‘ol sportsmanship. The Fishing
Derby. I never entered a fishing derby, but
I can tell you if I did, I would have one first
place.
Spring is finally here, and we are getting
ready for all the excitement a youth fishing
derby brings with it. Please find on the
next a list of youth tournaments around
New England.

New england youth derbies 2011
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Location:
Lake Winnipesaukee
Date/Time:
May 13-15th, 2011
Description:
Entry fee is $40 per adult and $30 for
Junior. Junior Derby participants must be
under the age of 16 upon the
completion of the Derby. Late
registration will be available at A.J.’s Bait
& Tackle, Main St., Meredith and online on
May 13th for fee of $50. Late registrations
are valid only for Saturday & Sunday.
No one will be able to enter thereafter.
Duplicate tickets will be $5.
Register: Derby participants may enter by
mail, in person or buy at
www.winniderby.com.
10 | facebook.com/newenglandcompass

Location:
Waterville Valley Town Square
6 Village Road, Waterville Valley
Date/Time:
May 28, 2011 • 8am-11am
Description:
Kids, grab your parents & tackle for a
fishing derby on the shores of beautiful
Corcoran’s Pond! All entrants receive a
t-shirt and cup of bait. Learn about ‘catch
& release and life in Corcoran’s Pond.
Prizes awarded across age groups.
Sponsored by the Waterville Valley
Recreation Department & Department of
Public Safety.
Register:
(603) 236-8175

at 1pm. on Friday!!**. This card must
be worn at all times while fishing at the
pond. All participants are eligible for
prizes but you must be present when
your name is called to win. There is a
limit of 5 fish per child and only one
fishing pole in the water per child. The
event will be held if raining, however, in
case of severe storms call the recorder
phone for information.

Date/Time: May 7, 2011 10am-2pm
Description: Enjoy the Spring with
family and friends at the third annual
Rhode Island OMK Fishing Derby. With
the help of RI DEM’s Aquatic Resources
Education Program we will be able to
supply rods, bait or lures for those who
need them. The competition will be
held from 11-2 and we invite all families
to bring picnic lunches. There will be a
place to set up blankets and chairs.

connecticut
Location:
Sage Park Pond, Berlin
Date/Time:
April 16 for ages 3-7 and Saturday,
April 30 for ages 8-15 for Berlin youth only.
Description:
An adult must accompany ages 3-10.
You must pre-register at the Parks and
Recreation Department to be able to
participate in the derbies and to fish at
the pond during the end of April and the
entire month of May. You will receive
an identification card when you register.
The deadline to register is the Friday before each event. **Remember the Parks
and Recreation Department closes

Description: Newington Parks and
Recreation Department’s Family Fishing
Derby is open to boys and girls ages 3
through 15 years. Sponsored by Newington Parks and Recreation Department
and Trout Unlimited. Bring the whole
family to enjoy this wonderful spring
time event. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and
all participants must provide their own
fishing equipment. In case of inclement
weather, please call our program hotline
at 860-665-8686. The rain date will be
Sunday, May 1st. This event is FREE!
We are also offering a FREE family fishing
class that begins in early May. This free
fishing class is sponsored by the
Department of Environmental Protection’s Fisheries Division.
Register:
www.newingtonct.gov/content/78/118/138/2279/2985/default.aspx

The New England Compass | April 2011 | 11

the great wide open | Gone Fishin’

massachusetts
Location:
Mill Pond Park, 600 Oravetz Rd.
Lakeland Hills, across from Auburn Riverside High School.
Date/Time:
May 7th , 2011• 8:30am-12Pm
Description: Mark your calendars for the
52nd Annual Youth Fishing Derby
Green River Steelhead Trout Club
cordially invites youth, 14 years old and
under, to Annual Youth Fishing Derby.
The GRSTC and the State of Washington
happily stock the pond with trophy size
trout for the community’s enjoyment.
Light breakfast and lunch available.
Please join us for a great time.
Register: For information call Don Payne
253-833-0767 or Call Auburn Sports and
Marine 253-833-1440

• Establish rules. No running. Keep
your shoes on, and look around
before you cast.
• Set up a buddy system. The youngest anglers need an adult “buddy”
and constant supervision.
• Make sure each angler, swimmers
and non-swimmers alike, wears a
personal flotation device at all times
— on the boat, on the dock, or on
the shore.
• Bring a long-handled fish net, not
just for netting fish, but in case you
need to reach out to someone in
the water. It will also retrieve trash or
valuables from the water.
• F
irst Aid Kit. You should have a kit
with medical supplies to deal with
all manner of cuts and scrapes,
bruises and bumps, bites and
boo-boos. You’re likely to be some
distance away from professional
medical assistance so remember, in
the meantime, you’re the “doctor.”
Johnson & Johnson First Aid Pocket
Pals are a smart addition to the
tackle box.

• C
old drink breaks. Summer temperatures can get pretty warm, so bring
lots of cool water and other healthy
drinks and make sure the young
anglers drink fluids often to prevent
dehydration or even heat stroke.
• Sunscreen. The ultraviolet (UV) light
of the sun can do a lot of damage
to skin, eyes and lips. Outfit young
anglers with proper sunglasses, a
billed cap, and clothing appropriate
to the climate and sun conditions.
Avoid fishing in the middle of the
day. Cover face, neck, ears, the back
of hands and all exposed skin with
sunscreen with a sun protection
factor of 15 or higher. Apply chap
protection wax on lips.
• Insect repellent. Mosquitoes, ticks,
bees and other insects not only
sting, they can carry diseases of
one kind or another. Apply insect
repellent. Follow the directions on
the container. If your insect repellent
contains “Deet,” it may be better to
apply it to the
clothing instead of the skin.
• S
afety comes first. All the checklists
in the world can’t anticipate all of the
safety problems you or your young
anglers might encounter on a fishing
trip. So the best advice is think safety
at all times. Look for trouble before it
finds you. If it finds you anyway, know
how to deal with it.
• Wear non-slip shoes to avoid
slipping on slippery surfaces or
cutting yourself on sharp edges.
• When you’re carrying your fishing
rod make sure the hook is secure
(not dangling) and hold the rod
parallel to the ground

The New England Compass | April 2011 | 13

blazin’ trails | Spring Hiking

{PICK OF THE MONTH}

The Long Trail, VT

The oldest long distance hiking trail in America
The Long Trail is a hiking trail located in Vermont, running the length of the state. It is
the oldest long-distance trail in the United
States[1], constructed between 1910 and
1930 by the Green Mountain Club. The club
remains the primary organization responsible
for the trail, and is recognized by the state
legislature as “the founder, sponsor, defender, and protector” of the Long Trail System.
Built by the Green Mountain Club between
1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest
long-distance trail in the United States. The
Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green
Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont
line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration
for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides
with it for one hundred miles in the southern
third of the state.

With its 273-mile footpath, 175 miles of side
trails, and nearly 70 primitive shelters, the
Long Trail offers endless hiking opportunities
for the day hiker, weekend overnighter, and
extended backpacker.
The Long Trail is marked by two-by-six-inch
white blazes. Along the trail, intersections are
usually marked with signs. Double blazes may
mark important turns. Side trails are blazed in
blue and signed.

Although the Long Trail is known as Vermont’s
“footpath in the wilderness,” its character
may more accurately be described as backcountry. As it winds its way to Canada, the
Trail climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine
ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forests and
swift streams. The Long Trail is steep in some
places, muddy in others, and rugged in most.
Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied
terrain of the trail as it passes through the
heart of Vermont’s backwoods.

Just Get Dirty is more than an apparel company –
it’s a way of life!
JGD offers clothing, bags and gear for those who are not afraid
of a little dirt – from campers to construction workers, from
soccer teams and race teams, and everyone in between. If you
can get dirty doing it, we’ve got you covered! Founded on the
philosophy of old-fashioned fun, Just Get Dirty reminds
everyone that good times are waiting just outside your door!

Sanctuary 280 Eliot St. (Rt.16), Natick. 8
– 9:30 p.m. View Saturn’s rings through a
telescope as it makes its closest pass to
Earth during the year. Why does Saturn
have rings? Learn about Saturn’s moon.

Friday, 15
Shark and Ray Touch Tank Opens.
New England Aquarium
Central Wharf, Boston. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Trust Family Foundation Shark and
Ray Touch Tank will feature sharks and
rays in a 25,000-gallon tank surrounded
by shallow edges and viewing windows,
allowing visitors to experience a close
encounter with these animals. Included
with admission. 617-973-5200, neaq.org
Opening Day Garden in the Woods.
Framingham. newfs.org

Saturday, 16
12th Annual Earth Day Charles River
Cleanup. At sites along the Charles
River and its tributaries. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
crwa.org.
FREE Earth Day: Party for the Planet.
The Franklin Park Zoo, Boston. 10 a.m.
- 3 p.m. Learn about the incredible
animals that call the Zoo home as well
as the ways everyone can contribute to
create a healthier planet. 617-989-2000,
franklinparkzoo.org.

cabin
cabin
feva
feva| Getting
| Getting
you
you
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house
house

calendar of events,
Friday, 22

Wednesday, 27

It’s Earth Day! African Violets for
Young Growers. Tower Hill Botanic
Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 1 – 2:30
p.m. Learn to grow and love American’s
favorite house plant, the African Violet.
Pot up a young plant to take home and
learn to “put down” a leaf to propagate
new plants. Designed for young growers, aged 9-14. Younger children may attend with an adult companion. $8ppNM.
508-869-6111 x124, towerhillbg.org.

FREE Hidden History at The Wayside.
The Wayside: Home of Authors, Concord. 7 p.m. Consider how The Wayside
was home to slave owners and later
harbored a fugitive slave. Study letters
and diaries of residents and decide for
yourself who was an abolitionist and who
was not. 978-318-7825.

Happy Easter! A Farmer’s Morning.
Natick Community Organic Farm, 117
Eliot St.,Natick. 9 - 10:30 a.m. Do it the
farmer’s way! Take care of the animals,
feed and water them. Thehn collect fresh
eggs for breakfast, and head inside for
a hearty farm breakfast. A$16, first child
$12, subsequent children $6, under 3
free 508-655-2204, natickfarm.org.